Russian build up along Ukraine

Larbre34

A grim but interesting piece about Dubliner Rhys Byrne, fighting alongside other international volunteers in the Ukrainian TA, on the front to recapture annexed eastern Ukraine.

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-irish-fighter-rambo-describes-terrifying-russia-tank-chase-all-of-us-were-screaming-12919142

Grassy Knoll

Interesting perspective from this analyst on the current state of play and observations on the conduct of the war. Dunno if he is right or wrong ….

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0TahChM4QSU

Larbre34

So the Ukrainian counteroffensive slowly continues as we head inevitably towards another frozen winter and probable stalemate for another while.

In the Levant, a savage conflict has broken out between Iranian backed Arab militants and Israel, all while Israel cosies up to Saudi Arabia and the Emirates.

In Syria, Russian and Turkish and US/Allied forces continue in some sort of undefined proxy conflict for and against the Assad regime.

The Turks are fighting the Kurds and threatening the Greeks and the Cypriots.

The Serbs are monstering Kosovo, The Azeris have ethnically cleansed Nogorno-Karabakh, the Indians are quarreling with Pakistan and China. China is quarreling with every nation in South Asia that borders the South China Sea, plus Australia. Japan and South Korea are beyond done with North Korea's crap and the Sahel is a complete mess of proxy regimes for Russia and its mercenaries!

So, my argument is that we could be quite close to a global conventional war, a sudden escalation of dozens of parallel conflicts, becoming World War 3 if you like.

In that eventuality, whither Ireland? What do we do, what do we need? How do we move from defenceless to being the western flank of fortress Europe?

macraignil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121211353#Comment_121211353

Tried to voice my suggestion for this type of view of how geopolitics might develop on this thread I started without a lot of positive response but I still think there is merit to a major effort here to develop this countries abilities in drone technology. The use of drones is clearly going to be a major part of future conflicts as can be seen in how every day in the Ukraine russia war, cheaply made drones are providing critical reconnaissance and targeting the enemy on a tactical and strategic level. I suggested that the new technology could be best developed by a new structure for its development but you yourself pointed out that it is all fine as it is and the existing branches of the military here have it all in hand.

For the price of a few modern jet fighters we could have a cutting edge drone development centre and that's where I think efforts to provide for future security of this country should be focused. IT security is another area that needs attention as demonstrated by the recent hacking of the HSE network. Also food production needs to be assessed to see what can be done to counteract growing dependence on other countries for some foods with economics making a lot of more labour intensive food products simply cheaper to produce outside of the country and possibly some grants for producers of certain imported foods needed to improve our self sufficiency.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121212688#Comment_121212688

No I'm serious; in a 3am alarm call moment, a rapid escalation and confluence of conflicts on the doorstep of the EU, what do we actually do?

What is the defensive posture of Ireland, with the men and the tools we have, today, this bright morning.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121213260#Comment_121213260

We do what we do best as a nation sit on the fence and hope for the best

mupper2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121213260#Comment_121213260

This all has the real feeling of a building crescendo...like the World is just tipping towards a point where something real bad could kick it all off.

sparky42

Looks like “someone” has damaged/blown a gas pipeline from Finland to Estonia…

Larbre34

My tankie senses tell me it was most likely Finland or Estonia, or Denmark. Or Indonesia.